Copycat Panera Fuji Apple Dressing
If you love the crisp, sweet-tangy flavor of Panera’s Fuji Apple Salad Dressing, you can easily recreate it at home—while elevating it with the unique qualities of Arbequina olive oil and high-quality white balsamic vinegar. Here’s how to do it, plus tips for making the most of these star ingredients.
Why Arbequina Olive Oil?
Arbequina olive oil is prized for its mild, fruity, and slightly peppery profile. It’s less bitter than many other varieties, making it perfect for salad dressings where you want the oil to enhance, not overpower, the other flavors. Its smooth texture helps create a silky vinaigrette that clings beautifully to greens and toppings.
Why White Balsamic Vinegar?
White balsamic vinegar brings a gentle acidity and subtle sweetness, offering brightness without the deep color or syrupy intensity of traditional balsamic. This keeps your dressing light in both flavor and appearance, letting the apple and honey shine through.
Fuji Apple Dressing Copycat Recipe
Ingredients:
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¼ cup white balsamic vinegar
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2–3 tablespoons honey (to taste)
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2 tablespoons apple juice
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½ teaspoon sea salt
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¼ teaspoon black pepper
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¼ teaspoon garlic powder
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¼ teaspoon onion powder
Instructions:
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Combine Ingredients: Add the white balsamic vinegar, apple juice, honey, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder to a blender or bowl.
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Emulsify: With the blender running (or while whisking vigorously), slowly drizzle in the Arbequina olive oil until the dressing is emulsified and creamy.
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Taste and Adjust: Taste and adjust the sweetness or acidity as desired by adding more honey or vinegar.
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Serve: Use immediately on your favorite salad, or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. Shake well before each use.
Tips for the Perfect Copycat Dressing
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Use Fresh Apple Juice: Fuji apple juice is ideal for the most authentic flavor, but any fresh apple juice will add the necessary sweetness and fruitiness.
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Balance Sweetness and Tang: Adjust honey and vinegar to taste, as apple juices can vary in sweetness.
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Pairing Suggestions: This dressing is perfect for salads with mixed greens, grilled chicken, apple chips, pecans, and a sprinkle of blue cheese or feta—just like Panera’s classic.
Why This Combo Works
The fruity, buttery notes of Arbequina olive oil blend seamlessly with the bright, mellow tang of white balsamic vinegar. Together, they create a dressing that’s vibrant, fresh, and perfectly balanced—just like the Panera original, but with a gourmet twist. Plus it lacks nasty soybean oil
Try this recipe and bring the taste of your favorite café salad home—now with the added richness of Arbequina olive oil and the gentle sweetness of white balsamic vinegar. Your salads will never be the same!
